Improvement in the lightning-rods for protecting buildings



J. S. BARBER.

Lightning Rod.

No. 1.096. Patented March 5, I839.

Xhogrzphar. wam lm n, c.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOS. S. BARBER, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIGHTNING-RODS FOR PROTECTING BUILDINGS, &c., FROM THE EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1,096, dated March 5, 1839.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osErH S. BARBER, of Gloucester, Essex county, State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements on the modes generally practiced of protecting buildings or other property from the destructive effects of lightning, of which the following is a specification.

Myimprovements, the principles thereof, the manner in which I have contemplated the application of those principles by which the same may be distinguished from other inventions, together with those parts, improvements, or combinations I claim as my inventions and discoveries, I have hereinafter setforth and described, which description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings herein referred to, forms my specification.

Figure 1 represents a view of my invention. Fig. 2 will serve to show its application to a building and its mode of operation.

A is a hollow paraboloid or other suitable shaped body, constructed of copper or any good conducting metal, having attached to its lower side any desirable number of leaved, notched, or pointed pieces of metal, I) b b b,

shaped and arranged as seen in the drawings,

or otherwise properly formed to answer their intended purposes.

To the top of the body A a set of branching wire points (of any conducting metal) is fixed, as seen at B, Fig. 1, constructed as there represented, or in any other suitable manner.

The whole of the above apparatus is to be mounted on a long staff of wood, 0, or other proper non-conductor of the electric fluid, which staff is to be applied to some suitable part of the top of a house or other building, as represented in Fig. 2. Between the top of the stafi O and the shoulder D (through which the rod passes) there may be interposed a quantity of resin, through which the rod B also passes into the staff, the resin being a more perfect non-conductor, and thereby more effectually protecting the building to which the apparatus is attached. The electricity being attracted from a cloud by the points B will be dispersed or disseminated through the atmosphere by the points of the metallic leaves I) b b b, the staff or non-conductor O preventing the fluid from injuring the building.

Should one of the above apparatus not be deemed sufficient to protect any house on which the same may be erected, two or more may be used, which, in order to diffuse the lightning more eflectually should it strike either, may be connected by a wire or wires extending from the metallic body of one to that of the other.

Having thus described my improvements, I shall claim as my invention as follows, viz:

A paraboloid, constructed as above described, and its combination with a set of branching wire points in the manner above described, and for the purpose above set forth! In testimony that the above is a true description of my said invention and improvements 1 have hereto set my hand this 14th day of July, in the year 1838.

JOS. S. BARBER. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

B. H. EDDY, EZRA LINCOLN, Jr. 

